Vacuum cleaning apparatus.



- UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

FRANK J. MATCHETTE, RICHARD RADDATZ, AND CHARLES MOUKOS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN; SAID RADDATZ AND MOUKOS ASSIGNORS T0 SAID MATCHETTE.

VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application filed February 1, 1907. Serial No. 355,242.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK J. MATCH- Ea'rE, RICHARD RADDATZ, and CHARLES MoUKos, citizens of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of M11- Waukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to apparatus for removing dust and dirt from carpeted or uncarpeted floors, walls, furniture and other articles by means of a confined current of air. Its main objects are to automatically control the vacuum which produces the air current for operating the cleaning implements; to economize power in the o eration 0f the vacuum producing means, to acilitate manual control of the air current .in each cleaningyimplement and indirectly of the vacuum producing means; and generally to improve 4the construction and operation of apparatus of this class.

It consists. in certain novel features of construction and in the eculiar arrangement and combinations of) parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several figures. l

Figure l is a general view principally in elevation, of apparatus embodying the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views on an' enlarged scale of the automatic controller, Fig. 2 being a section on the line 2 2, Fig.

3, rand Fig. 3 a section on the line 3 3, Fig.

2`; and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views on an enlarged scale of the unloading valve, Fig. Llsloeing a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 5, and Fig. 5 a section on the lille 5 5, Fig. 4.

For the purpose of illustration the present invention is shown asv embodied in a vacuum cleaning apparatus permanently installed in a building, but without material change in its essential features it may bey embodied in either stationary or portable apparatus. n

f "Referring to Fig. 1, a. designates a standpip'e or servico main which when the apparatus is permanently installed 'in a building is provided at -convenient points, as at or near the several `floors through which the pipe passes, with a branch bhaving a stop valve c and a hose coupling d for the attachment of .a portable cleaning im lement. A portable cleaning implement e, esigned as shown 1n the present' case, for removing dust andldirt from floors, car ets and the like, is connected by aflexible p1pe or hose f with a branch b of the service main a, and is provided adjacent -to its handle within convenient reach of the o erator, with a valve g for controlling t e air passage through the implement. A dust separator or receptacle and 10W pressure reservoir h is ordinarily connected with the lower end of thef ipe or main a, particularly in a pay ratus o small or moderate capacity. l W ere the service pipe systemls extensive, it may serve itself as a pressure reservoir, and other provision may be made for disposing of the dust and dirt. A pump i is connected on its suction side by a ipe j with the receptacle h, preferably Witli) the upper part thereof, as shown, and this pipe is provided with a check valve lc which prevents back flow of air through said pipe from said receptacle when the ump is stop ed or ,unloaded Z is the disc arge pipe o the pump and mdeslgnates a motor which may be of any suitable kind for driving the pump.

To maintain the vacuum or low service pressure within desired limits and to economize power, an unloading valve n connected with the suction pipe j controls communication between the suction side of the pump and the atmosphere. A11 automatic controller o is connected. with the chamber of sald valve and by a p1pe p with the dust reconvenient part' of the apparatus in which servlce pressure 1s maintained. In the present case the unloading valve as. shown in ceptacle and reservoir )t or ywith any other Fig. 5, has a cylindrical case in which a hollow or cup-shaped piston valve g isl fitted. A spring 1' holds the valve normally against its seat in the case around the port s, which is open to the atmosphere and cuts olf communication between said port and the passage t which connects with the suction pipe j of the pump.

The automatic controller which governs the operation of the unloading valvegcomprises as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, two piston valves u and o fitted in a cylindrical chamber which communicates at the ends through a passage w with the pipe p, and has at an Vintermediate point between the two valves one or more ports vopening to the atmos-- phere. These valves are pressed inwardly in turn supported upon the points of screws 2. threaded and adjustable axially in the end caps of the valve case.A The valve u is formed with longitudinal passages 3 opening through its inner end in communication with the ports w and intersecting at their outer ends an annular groove or passage 4 which registers .withA a lateral port 5 inv thevalve case. The valve v is formed with radial passages. 6, opening at 'their inner ends into an axial bore which receives'the spring and at their outer ends through the cylindrical face of the valve, and are arranged to register on one side of the valve Ywith a lateral port 7 in the valve case. The ports and 7 are connected by a passage 8, which is in turn connected by a pipe or passage with the chamber of the unloading valven on the oppositeside ofthe valve (1 'from the port s, as shown-in Figs. l, 2 and 5.

The apparatus operates as follows: The motor being started, the pump is driven continuously or without interruption as long as the apparatus may be needed. Air is eX- hausted by lthe operation of the pump through the pipe ,7' from the dust receptacle and, reservoir hand from the standpipe or service main a connected therewith. When the'vacuum or pressure at which the controller is adjusted to unloadthe pump has been reached, the valve u is moved out- 'wa-rdly by the unbalanced air pressure on its inner end against the tension of its spring s, and the groove or passage't is carried out of registel` with the-port 5, thereby cutting ott communication between the chamber of. the unloading valve n\and the -atmos- 'pherefthrough ports The valve 'v being also moved outwardly by the unbalanced air pressure on its inner end against the tension of its spring the passages 6 are brought into regi'sterwith the port 7, thereby estab-V lishing communication between the chamber of the-unloading valve and the reservoir kthrough the passage .fw and pipe p. When this occurs the unbalanced pressure on the piston V`valve -Q compresses vthe spring r and opens thevalve, thereby admitting air into j the suction pipe j through the ports and Vpassage t andi unloading the pump, which then runs'idle. As soon, as the vacuum is brokenV in the -pipe 7' the check valve c is seated, thereby preventingadmission of a'ir through said pipe Vinto the reservoir and service main andl avoiding the loss of .vacuum or pressure and -the consequent was opened and clo'sed.

waste ofpower and time which would otherwise occur every time the unloading. valve Whenever the vacuum is reduced or the pressure increased to the limit at which the automatic controller is adjustedto closethe unloading "valve and bring the pump into service, the

valve o pressed inwardly by its spring-'2, cuts off communication between the unloading valve chamber and the reservoir la, and the valve u pressed inwardly by its spring a, then establishes communication between the atmosphere and the unloading valve chamber'through the ports andy passages a?, y3, 4, 5 and 8. Norma] pressure being thereupon restored in the unloading v'alve chamber, the valve g is instantly closed by the spring r, cutting olf communication between the l suction pipe y' and the atmosphere through the port s. rlhe pump ,now resumes@ its work, reducing the pressure in the reservoir. j

L and service main till it again reaches the limit for which the automatic cont-roller is set to open,l and the operation of opening the unloading valve and relieving the pump of work is repeated as above explained. The vacuum is thus automatically maintained within the desired limits for which the controller is adjusted without lcare or attention on the part of the operator, or of anyone using 'a cleaning implement connected with the apparatus@ When a c leanlng implement is to be used,

the operator opens the handle valve g and dust and dirt are taken up from the carpet, floor. or other object over which Athe implement is m-oved, by the air current resulting from the opening of said valve, and is carried by such current through the hose connection into the pipe a and-thence into the receptacle h, wherein ,most if not all of the dust and dlrt are separated from the air and settle in the lower part of the receptacle, from which they are removed from tune to time through a door at its lower'end. The air from which (the dust and dirt have been separated, is drawn from the upper part of the receptacle h through the suction pipe jl into the pump and. discharged' therefrom through the pipe Z outside of thebuilding in lvwhich theanpsaratus is located or into a smoke stack or other convenlent flue or con-k duit. When work is temporarily discon- ,tinued witha cleaning implement for..any

purpose, suchas moving the implement from one place to another or replacing it with another while the'pump is running, `the valve g' is closed, thereby stopping the flow of air 'through the hose connection into thekservice ,mam and causing .an mcrease ofvacuunr or reduction of`pressure therein.v This increase of vacuumor reduction of pressure operates,

as he'reinbefore explained, through the automatic controller, to open the valvegfand relieve-the pump vfrom work, and at the same time the check valve 1 closes, preventing `'loss of vacuum and consequent waste of power. Durin the intervals of time. that no work is being c one or the apparatus is work` ing at less than its full capacity, as for example, when but one or two cleaning implements are being used in a five implement plant, the unloading valve relieves the pump from duty for longer or shorter4 intervals according to the demands upon the apparatus. v 'hen no work is done, the puln will be brought into service just often enugli and' just long enough to supply anv waste which may occur through leakage in apparatus and to maintain the vacuum or service pressure within the limits for which the controller is adjusted. It will thus be seen that the effective operation of the pump is go'verned without care or attention on the art of operators or attendants, by the opening and closing of the valves g with which the connections of the cleaning implements are provided, and that the pump will run with or without load and power will be consumed in-accordance wit-h the actual demands upon the ap ara-tus, as determined by the manipulation oi) said valves g which coutrol the admission of airV into the service main through the cleaning implements.

The receptacle h serves not only to collect and hold dust anddirt drawn into the apparatus through the service pipe, but@ also as a reservoir for the storage of service presf sure, whereby unnecessarilyfrequent operation of thel unloading 'valve is avoided.

The springs a and screws 2 of the automatic controller afford means for varying the minimum and maximum pressure limits at which the unloading valve opens and closes. The.unloading valve may be connected with the reservoir 71, or with a part of the apparatus in which service ressure4 is maintained and may be actuatet by air pressure, or it may be connected with any other convenient source `of power and actuated by such power under the control of the vacuum or service pressure produced by the pump and according to variations in such vacuum or pressure. "Various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the scopeof the followin claims without departing from the princip e ot the invention.

We claim':

-1. In vacuum cleaning apparatus the combination of a service mam, a pump connected therewith and adapted to exhaust air therefrom, an unloading valve controlling communication `between the suction side of. the pump and the atmosph re and having an,` actuating connection with a part of the apparatus in which service pressure is maintained, a check valve between said unloading valve and the service main adapted to vada te prevent. back flow of air into said main when the unloading valve is opened, and an automatic controller operated byvariations in service pressure to intermittently admit and release such pressure to and from said unloading valve at separate predetermined limits of service pressure, substantially as described. A.

2. In vacuum cleaning apparatus the combination of a service main, a pump connected therewith and adapted to exhaust air therefrom, an unloading valve controlling communication between the suction side of the pump and the atmosphere and having a fiuid pressure actuating connection and an automatic controller connected with a part of the apparatus in which service pressure is maintained andv comprising spring pressed' valves subjected to service pressure and controlling the admission and release of fluid pressure through the actuating connection of the unloading valve, substantially as described. u

3. In vacuum cleaning apparatus the combination of a service mam, a pump connected therewith and adapted to exhaust air therefrom, an unloading Valve controlling communication between the suction side of the pump and the atmosphere and having a fluid ressure actuating connection, a spring ten mg to hold said valve Iclosed, and an automatic controller connected with a part of the a paratus in which service pressure is maintained 'and comprising valves subjected to service pressure and controlling the admission and release of fluid pressure 'to and from the unloading valve, and adjustable springs opposin the movement of said controller valvesl y air pressure, substantially as described.

4. In vacuum cleaning apparatus the lcombination of a dust separator and low pressure reservoir, a pum connected with said separator and reservolr and adapted to exhaust air therefrom, an unloading valve connected with the suction side of said pump and controlling communication between it and the atmosphere, a check valve between said unloading valve and said separator and reservoir adapted to prevent' back flow of air into the reservoir when the unloading valve is opened, an automatic controller connected with said reservoir and comprising valve mechanism subjected to service pressure and controlling the operation of the unloading valve and portable means adapted to control the operation of said controller at a distance therefrom, substantially as described. y

5. The combination of a service main, a pum '4 connected with said main and dito exhaust air therefrom, an unloa ing valve controlling communication between the suction side ofthe pump and the atmosphere and having an actuating connection with a part ofthe apparatus in which service pressure is maintained, and means adaptedto automatically admit and release said service pressure to and from said valve at'separate predetermined limits of pressure.

6. The vcombination of a service main, a

' pump connected therewith vand arranged to exhaust air therefrom, an-unloading valve controlling communication between the suction side of; the pump and the atmosphere, and an automatic controllercomprising valves one fofwhich controls communication between the unloading valve and the atmosphere and the other' conununication between the unloading valve and a source of fluid pressure, a spring tending to hold one of the controller valves open, and a spring tending to hold the other controller valve closed, substantially -as described.

7. The combination of va service main, a

l pump connected therewith and arranged to exhaust air therefrom, anunloading valve controlling communication between `the suctio-n' side `of the pump and the atmosphere havlng a `fluid ypressure actuating connec ltlon, a spring tending to hold said valve v closed, and an automatic controller connected with a part of the apparatus in which service pressure 1s maintained and comprising two valves, 'one of which controls com! munication vbetween the -unloading valve and" the atmosphere' and the other communication between the unloading valve and the said valves, Aand means for adjustin source ofi-pressure which actuates it, springs ling communication between the suctionl side of the pump and the atmosphere, a check valve between said main and the unloading valve adapted to prevent the'back'iow of air into said main when the unloading valve is opened, an automatic controller-connected with a. part of the apparatus in which service pressure is maintained and com-prising valve mechanism operated by variations in service pressure and controlling the sup-` ply and release of vfluid pressure to and from the unloading valve and a portable valve having a flexible connection with the service mainA for lcontrolling the automatic controller, substantially-as described. [9. In vacuum cleaning apparatus the combination of air exhausting means, a valve controlling the operation of said air exhaust-v ing means yand having an actuating connection, and an automatic controller connectedwith a part of the apparatus in which vacu- -um 1s inalntalned and adapted to open .and

close the actuating connection of said valve at separate predetermined limits of.y the vvacuum to which -said controller is subjected.

10. In vacuum cleaning apparatus the combination 'of air exhausting means, a

valve controlling the operation of said air exhausting means and having an actuating connection, an 'automatic controller connected with a part of the apparatus in which vacuum is malntained and adapted to open and close the actuating connection of said 'valvel at separate predetermined limits of the vacuum to which said controlleris subjected and means for adjusting said lcontroller to vary said limits.

11. VIn vacuum cleaning apparatus the combinationl of -air 'exhausting means, .a valve controlling the operation of said air exhausting means and having an actuating connection, an automatic controller connectled with a part' of the apparatus in which vacuum 'is maintained and adapted to open and close the actuating connection of said valve at separate predetermined limits of the vacuum to which said controller is suh-A jected andvmeans for adjusting said controller to vary each of said limits independently of the other.

12.`In vacuum cleaningapparatus y the combination lof air exhausting means, a valve controlling the operation of said air exhausting means and having an actuating connection, and an automatic controller connected with a part of the apparatus in .which vacuum isv maintained and comprising two separately movable parts subjected to such vacuum and adapted to open and close the actuating connection-of said valve at sepa-l rate predetermined limits'of vacuum.

13. In vvacuum cleaning apparatus the combination of. air exhausting means, avalve controlling the operation of vsaid air exhausting means'and having an actuating connection, an automatic controller connected with a part -of the apparatus in which vacuum is maintained and comprising two separately movable parts subjected to such vacuum and adapted 'to open and. close the actuating connection of said valve, at separate predetermined 'limits of vacuum, and

means of adjustment for separately'varying y said limits.

In witness vwhereof we hereto valiix our slgnatures 1 n presence of two witnesses;

FRANKv J. MATCHETTE.

RICHARD RADDATZ. CIIARLES MOUK'OS Witnesses: f

CnAsL. Goss, 'W. F. GIBSON; 

